Rep. Issa Close To Finding Holder In Contempt Of Congress

Now, that would be a hell of a thing, the top “law enforcement” agent in the country slapped with a contempt charge

(Daily Caller) On Tuesday Rep. Darrell Issa, chairman of the House committee on Oversight and Government Reform, took a major step toward holding Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for his failure to provide subpoenaed documents and other information about Operation Fast and Furious.

In a Jan. 31 letter, Issa had threatened Holder with such a move if he failed to provide all the subpoenaed documents relating to the Fast and Furious gunwalking scandal by Feb. 9. That deadline has come and gone, and Holder’s Department of Justice still hasn’t provided most of those documents. Issa’s subpoena dates back to Oct. 12, 2011.

On Tuesday in a seven-page letter, Issa revealed that Deputy Attorney General James Cole begged Congress to extend the Feb. 9 deadline. Issa wrote that the request was “ironic” and “ignores the reality that the Department has unreasonably delayed producing these documents to the Committee.”

“On its face, the requested extension demonstrates a lack of good faith,” Issa wrote to Holder. “With one exception, the Department has only produced documents responsive to the subpoena on the eve of congressional hearings in which senior Department officials testified. The Department appears to be more concerned with protecting its image through spin control than actually cooperating with Congress.”

That last paragraph is the way the letter starts. In the letter, Issa has multiple questions for Holder, including

Exactly how and when did senior Department officials learn the truth of what happened?

Did Department officials retaliate against whistleblowers?

Issa also demands early in the letter, because “we cannot wait any longer for the Department’s cooperation” that Holder “specify a date by which you expect the Department to produce all documents responsive to the subpoena.” The bold and underline was not mine, but Issa’s.

The letter ends thusly

It is impossible to end our investigation with the current level of cooperation we are receiving from the Department. Rather, the Committee requires the full cooperation of the Department Of Justice. This is not an “election year political ‘gotcha’ game,” but rather a bipartisan sentiment. As Ranking Member [Elijah] Cummings (D-MD) promised the family of slain Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, “we will not rest until every single person responsible for all of this, no matter where they are, are brought to justice.” I applaud his revolve, and I want to make it clear that Congress will not give up until this accountability has been achieved. (note: bold is Issa’s)

It’s time to hold Holder in contempt, and get to the truth of what would be a major scandal had this operation occurred under Bush or a Republican president.